Ko started walking toward Kenika and waved to greet her.
"Hey, Kenny!" he shouted.
Kenika walked a few steps toward him, grabbed his arm, and said, "Let's go in first."
Although confused by her sudden action, Ko went along with it as she dragged him into the café. They sat down at a table by the window.
"Umm, Kenny? What was that about?" Ko asked.
"Oh, nothing! I just thought it was going to rain soon, hehe!" she replied playfully.
"It's our fourth date in six months of being together, and it's going to rain today?" Ko said with a rather disappointed expression.
"Oh, don't be like that, idiot! Even if it rains today, it'll still become a good memory, ri—"
Kenika paused as unfamiliar images suddenly flashed through her mind.
"Memory?" she murmured, her eyes widening in confusion as she looked down at the table.
"Kenny, are you alright?" Ko asked, his voice filled with both worry and confusion.
After hearing Ko's concerned voice, the strange images suddenly disappeared from her mind.
"Uh… oh, nothing! Something got into my eye, but I'm alright now," she replied.
"Is that all? I heard something about a 'memory'?" Ko asked, still confused.
"What are you even saying, stupid Ko?"
She paused for a moment before continuing.
"Ah… I think it's going to rain. Can we watch that film today?" she asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
Realizing she was deliberately avoiding the topic, Ko decided not to press her any further.
"I don't know. Maybe we should end our date after lunch?" he suggested.
"No, no, no! I absolutely want to see that film," Kenika whined.
"Okay, okay. We'll go to the cinema after visiting the park," Ko said as he picked up the menu.
Ko ordered a hot black coffee with a flourless chocolate cake.
"What do you want, Kenny?"
"Just black coffee. I'm on a diet," Kenika replied, resisting the temptation to order something sweet.
As Kenika quietly sipped her coffee, Ko silently admired his girlfriend while finishing his cake.
As the café's clock chimed twelve times, they finished their coffee. Kenika paid the bill while Ko remained seated, watching the gathering rain clouds outside.
"Ko, shall we go?" Kenika called, pulling him away from the sky.
They left the café and started walking toward the park.
As they walked, their hands brushed against each other. Ko reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers.
Kenika lowered her gaze to their joined hands before looking up into his eyes with a smile that brimmed with love.
"Kenny?"
"Hmm?"
"Would you go to space if someone offered you the chance?" Ko asked as he looked up at the sky.
"No, I wouldn't. What am I going to do in space? My family is here, and you're here too. What about you?" Kenika asked with a proud smile.
"I'd be the first person to accept the offer. Just imagine leaving Earth's atmosphere and seeing the planets and stars up close. And there's something called dark matter too. It's said to be like a huge void of nothingness."
Ah, there he goes again.
Kenika sighed to herself with an exhausted expression.
Interrupting him in the middle of his space lecture, she puffed out her cheeks.
"So, you love your space adventures more than your family and me?"
"Oh…"
Ko's expression grew serious.
"Can you say that soldiers who sacrifice their lives for their country love their country more than their families? You can't, right?"
He let go of Kenika's hand.
"It's not about what we love more. It's about a sense of something bigger… pride… and duty."
He looked up at the sky once again.
"Whenever I look at the sky, I feel some sense of duty."
"What are you getting all serious for, you goofy?" Kenika asked playfully as she pinched his side.
"Ouch! Ah, what are you doing, Senpai?"
Just like that, the usual Ko returned.
They approached the park as thunder rumbled overhead.
They entered the park and looked around.
"Why are there only a few people?" Ko asked.
"Look at the clouds, idiot! Who do you think wants to come to the park when it's about to rain?" Kenika replied with an annoyed look.
"Me?" Ko answered with a dumbfounded expression.
"Huh…" Kenika let out an exasperated sigh. "Anyway, let's go sit by the pond for a while, okay?"
As usual, she grabbed Ko's arm and started dragging him along.
"But why the pond? Can't we just sit here?"
"Because it's quieter there. Now come with me without acting like a child on his first day of school," Kenika said as she continued pulling him toward the pond.
**Whoosh!**
A sudden gust of wind swept past them. Ko looked up at the clouds as cold raindrops began to fall.
"Ah, Kenny, it's started to rain."
Within seconds, the drizzle turned into a downpour, and they dashed toward the gazebo in the distance.
Kenika reached it first.
"Ko, what are you doing? Get in here quickly!" she shouted.
Ko hurried inside a moment later.
"Why did you start running when you were already soaked?" he asked.
They sat on opposite benches inside the gazebo.
Ko watched his girlfriend shiver as the cold rain and her drenched clothes made her tremble.
"Kenny," he called softly.
"Haan?" she replied gently.
"Come here."
Ko opened both his arms, inviting her into a hug.
Kenika shook her head.
Seeing her refuse, Ko let out a quiet chuckle and stood up. He walked over, sat down behind her, and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"Ko, what are you doing? We're in a public place!" Kenika exclaimed, her face flushing from the unexpected display of affection.
"Hold your horses, lady. We're not doing anything inappropriate," Ko said with a mischievous smile.
"Hmph."
She turned away with a pout.
"Haaah… You're so warm, Kenny," Ko murmured as he tightened his embrace.
They remained like that for a few minutes in comfortable silence.
Breaking the silence, Kenika softly called out,
"Ko."
Then she rested her head against his shoulder.
The two gazed into each other's eyes for a few seconds.
Seeing his girlfriend's face so close, Ko gently traced her cheek with his fingers.
"What?"
"I don't know why I called your name," she replied with a puzzled expression.
Hearing that, Ko couldn't resist teasing her.
"Did your love overflow because I hugged you from behind? Hehe."
She didn't answer.
Noticing her silence, Ko gently rubbed her belly.
"Kenny, you said you're on a diet. Does that mean you're trying to get rid of this little tummy?" he asked as he lightly pinched her soft lower belly.
"Ko, that tickles! And it's just unnecessary fat," Kenika replied, her voice filled with equal parts embarrassment and annoyance.
"Heh, but I like this little tummy of yours. It's so soft and smooth," Ko said as he gently caressed her belly.
"I said it tickles, Ko!" she shouted as she grabbed his arms and playfully opened her mouth to bite him.
Seeing this, Ko quickly pulled his hands away, hopped onto the bench, and ran to the other side of the gazebo, laughing like an idiot.
Eventually, the rain came to an end, and a single ray of orange sunlight brushed across the flowers surrounding the gazebo.
"Kenny, look. The rain stopped."
"But it's already four in the afternoon. We can't go to the cinema anymore," Kenika said with a disappointed expression.
"Don't worry, Kenny. I'll borrow some DVDs from my friends, and we can watch them together at my place," Ko replied with a reassuring smile.
"Ah, I just remembered something." Joy lit up Kenika's eyes. "My aunt wants to invite you over for lunch someday. So next week, we can watch the movie at my place instead."
"Yes! A home date with Kenny," Ko thought to himself.
"Oh, she invited me herself? I thought she didn't like me that much," Ko said as he recalled his encounter with Saya.
"You met her?"
"Yes. Remember when you were sick two days ago and I came to visit you?"
"Ah, yes. You also asked about my aunt before leaving, right?"
"I met her while I was leaving your house. She was quite scary, and—"
Ko paused.
"…also so beautiful at the same time," he said with a straight face.
The moment the words left his mouth, he slowly turned his head toward his pouting girlfriend.
"Are you seriously getting jealous of your own aunt?" Ko asked teasingly.
"No, I'm not jealous," she replied, turning her head away from him.
"Yup, you're totally not jealous. I can clearly see that," Ko replied with a mischievous smile.
As Ko continued teasing her, they made their way toward the city center.
He teased Kenika the entire walk until they finally reached the bustling streets.
"Okay, Kenny! See you tomorrow at school! Byee!"
Ko waved as he started running toward home.
"Don't forget about the movie next week, okay?! Byee, Ko! Get home safely!" Kenika shouted as she watched him run off.
To be continued...